MAPUSA, March 23: Salgaocar Football Club got back to winning ways edging past Mumbai FC 1-0 in a 20th round I-League clash at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Saturday (March 23).
There was very little to differentiate the two teams until Milagres Gonsalves scored in the 58th minute to give Salgaocar three crucial points.
Salgaocar were without three suspended players – Brazilian striker Josimar Martins, goalkeeper Karanjit Singh and defender Rahul Kumar – but David Booth had enough in his reserves to field a competitive side as he handed rare starts to Milagres Gonsalves, Brian Mascarenhas while Brazilian defender and captain Luciano Sobroza made his much-awaited return from injury.
Expectedly both teams took time to settle down with Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil too opting to field many of his younger players. The play was being mostly confined to the midfield in the opening minutes as both teams seemed wary of moving forward.
Salgaocar’s opening chances came through crosses from the right flank where Francis Fernandes and Nicolau Colaco sent measured crosses which the likes of Brian and John Wilkinson missed in quick succession.
For Mumbai FC, the best chance came early in the game when Nicholas Rodrigues’ freekick from just outside the danger zone was palmed away by an alert Viney Singh under the Salgaocar horizontal.
Salgaocar finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when a quick release from a throw-in by Brian saw Fulgancio Cardozo float the ball into the box. The ball landed at the feet of OJ Obatola who, seeing Milagres Gonsalves unmarked, released the ball allowing Milagres to score from close range.
Mumbai FC had a chance to restore parity towards the closing stages of the match when Gabriel Fernandes crossed well but Ghanaian striker Yakub Yusif was a wee bit slow to connect in front of an open goal.
There was very little to differentiate the two teams until Milagres Gonsalves scored in the 58th minute to give Salgaocar three crucial points.
Salgaocar were without three suspended players – Brazilian striker Josimar Martins, goalkeeper Karanjit Singh and defender Rahul Kumar – but David Booth had enough in his reserves to field a competitive side as he handed rare starts to Milagres Gonsalves, Brian Mascarenhas while Brazilian defender and captain Luciano Sobroza made his much-awaited return from injury.
Expectedly both teams took time to settle down with Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil too opting to field many of his younger players. The play was being mostly confined to the midfield in the opening minutes as both teams seemed wary of moving forward.
Salgaocar’s opening chances came through crosses from the right flank where Francis Fernandes and Nicolau Colaco sent measured crosses which the likes of Brian and John Wilkinson missed in quick succession.
For Mumbai FC, the best chance came early in the game when Nicholas Rodrigues’ freekick from just outside the danger zone was palmed away by an alert Viney Singh under the Salgaocar horizontal.
Salgaocar finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when a quick release from a throw-in by Brian saw Fulgancio Cardozo float the ball into the box. The ball landed at the feet of OJ Obatola who, seeing Milagres Gonsalves unmarked, released the ball allowing Milagres to score from close range.
Mumbai FC had a chance to restore parity towards the closing stages of the match when Gabriel Fernandes crossed well but Ghanaian striker Yakub Yusif was a wee bit slow to connect in front of an open goal.
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